Active Internet Support Blog
Garry Sibbald
As Managing Director of Active Internet Support Ltd, I head a web development company based in Bournemouth England.
As a company, we are passionate about the internet and the benefit it brings to business and our enthusiasm rubs off on our clients.
Our drive to be at the forefront of this industry has established us as one of the leading players in both web development and internet marketing and our success speaks for itself.
Our standards are high, we adopt best practice in everything we do and we do not comprimise - after all standards cost nothing.
Welcome to my blog "The witterings of a web developer"
Internet Explorer 6 is 7 years old today!
Wednesday, 27 August 2008 22:00
It looks like IE6 is still the most popular browser in the world with about a 35% market share, putting it just in front of IE7. www.counter.com
This is bad news.
IE6 was a poor improvement on it's predecessor (IE5.5) with major security issues being one serious issue, but most apparent from a developers point of view was it's lack of acceptance/adherence to web standards.
As every good developer will know, this means that having gone to the trouble to code a website to meet web standards as recommended by the World Wide Website Consortium www.w3.org (the controlling body for the internet), it is necessary to 'hack' the code to get the website to display and function acceptably on IE6.
IE7 still has not met the same level of standards that other browsers such as firefox and opera meet (yes there is an alternative to internet explorer - try one you might like it!) but it has got a bit nearer.
There is now increasing talk in the web development world of dropping support for IE6 in an effort to force users to upgrade and with Internet Explorer version 8 which is already in beta testing and promising to be the first ever standard compliant web browser from Microsoft - joy of joys! this would seem to make sense.
In simple terms this means not bothering to 'hack' the code and leaving the website to display with all its shortcomings as a way to force users to make the change.
Dropping support for IE6 may force users to upgrade, but I feel it may prove detrimental to our clients success.
It is easy to say 'if the user does not update his system what should he expect' until you consider that the user may not be aware that there system is the reason for your websites poor appearance or the reason why they can't make an online purchase or complete a contact form enquiry.
Generating business is why you have a website. Like it or not, first impressions count, so it makes sense to look good to the widest audience and if you have a product to sell online you will want to take every chance you get to sell it.
This means that whilst IE6 remains so popular, we have to reluctanly continue bastardising good websites so they work for the masses.
Gold at Olympics creates huge interest in our clients website.
Monday, 25 August 2008 14:00
Naturally, interest in Ben's Olympic progress in the Finn Sailing event and his eventual success at winning the Gold medal would create a lot of additional interest, both in Ben as an athlete and also in sailing.
Read more: Gold at Olympics creates huge interest in our clients website.
Who do we want to employ? Sorry I can't say!
Monday, 21 July 2008 16:00
If you have been sending out numerous CV's and not getting anywhere, do not be disheartened. It's more than likely that for most of your applications you were a non runner from the start - usually because of no fault of your own!
Bespoke or not Bespoke that is the question?
Saturday, 21 June 2008 16:20
What does Bespoke mean to you? - Just recently I read an article recently (Rashid Razaq, Evening Standard) which explained how the Tailors of Saville Row had lost a legal battle over the right for the word 'Bespoke' to refer exclusively to hand made suits
Typing errors make me want to Yell
Sunday, 08 June 2008 00:00
Typing errors can certainly come back to haunt you!
I don't want to come across as too judgemental here, I make my fair share of typing errors and even worse, some remain unnoticed for ages, but...
Roll up, Roll up, Free SEO report
Monday, 02 June 2008 21:28
We were discussing how amazed our clients are when they see how detailed our website search engine optimisation reports actually are.
It only takes 30 seconds
Monday, 02 June 2008 21:22
The Evolution of British Maths Teaching
Monday, 02 June 2008 00:00
I received this observation from a colleague and thought I would share it - if you don't enjoy the humour, please don't shoot the messenger!
Our quotes are free - unless you would prefer to pay instead!
Monday, 02 June 2008 00:00
Dear prospect,
thanks for inviting us in to discuss your development requirements, we would love to do the work, the next stage is for us to put together a proposal.
Now where's that cheque book of yours?
Why? - Because we want paying for the quote we will provide.
Read more: Our quotes are free - unless you would prefer to pay instead!
Internet World - Stand back and observe!
Sunday, 01 June 2008 17:09
One of the things that I found most interesting during my attendance to the 'Internet World' trade fair (29th April - 1st May 2008) was observing which seminars were most popular. As the trade fair is primarily attended by business managers, It makes sense to stand back and observe what the business community finds interesting.
Small Business - Big Advantage
Sunday, 01 June 2008 13:44
I read an article recently that had been written by an Aussie guy called Brendon Sinclair. He runs a Web Development Company in Australia, and his company sounds like it is not too disimilar to ours in both size and structure. The way he operates his business also has a lot of similarities to the way we operate ours, so I find myself agreeing more often than not with his views (have you noticed how an article is far more enjoyable to read if you share the same viewpoint as the author!).
More Articles...
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